Check That Off the List

Lists rule my life. Groceries, chores, tasks, to do items, etc. I have lists scribbled on sticky notes scattered across my desk at work and lists that pop up when I open my email. I have lists of random items and things to get at the store on my fridge, chores to complete in my planner and a myriad of other things to do written on random envelops and pieces of junk mail all over my dinner table.

In my world the list reigns supreme. I am pretty sure I inherited this from my mother. My need to organize my grocery list by department and food type; my need to organize my chore lists by length of time required to complete the task and the items’ importance. My sister says I am crazy but I love lists! Without such lists I would never get anything productive done.

I love the sense of satisfaction I get when I can cross something off—often time I find myself adding chores that I had not anticipated on tackling to my list just so I can cross them off—it feels that good. And at the end of the day, when I look at all the completed tasks I feel so good about myself and I am proud of how productive I was.

The one downside to list making—often time the list becomes too long or intensive to actually complete the tasks with the given time. For instance—every Saturday I get up and make a list of things to do that day. I have learned it is important to be as specific as possible—the more specific the easier the tasks seem and the more items to cross off.

Here was my list for Saturday: clean bathroom, change shower curtain, change sheets, wash darks, wash whites, wash towels, fold laundry, put away laundry, wipe kitchen counters, sweep kitchen, mop kitchen, dust living room, vacuum, go grocery shopping, clean out fridge, clean lamp shades…

See what I mean? Most of these items are not big but that’s not the whole list. Anyway—I am proud to say for the first time in—as long as I can remember—I crossed every item off my list. I even added and crossed off some additional items like: sort clothes for DI, organized closet and dresser drawers, shred old bills and statements, and reorganize the file box.

Unfortunately, there is already another long list in the making but that doesn’t bother me; I can’t wait to start crossing things off that one too!